Apparel-belt.



No. 667,252. Patented Feb. 5, l90l. E. ROBERTON.

APPAREL BELT.

Application filed Mm. 21, 1900.]

(No Model.)

INVENTOH WITNESSES W5 A T'TORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFrcE.

EMMA ROBERTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPAREL-BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 667,252, dated February 5, 1901.

Application filed March 21,1900- Serial No. 9,512. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMMA ROBERTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Adjustable Belts, of which the following is a full and complete specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to belts; and the object thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is sectional and adjustable and which will serve as an ordinary belt or as a brace or stay belt.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which like reference characters denote like parts in the several views, Figure 1 is an outside view of a belt made according to myinvention, and Fig. 2 a section on the line 2 2 thereof.

In the practice of my invention I provide a belt which comprises a flexible strap A of any desired material, and threaded or mounted thereon are a plurality of cross-strips B, which are constructed as hereinafter described, and in placing the cross-strips B on the strap A the said cross-strips are slitted longitudinally at two different points, as shown at O, and the strapAis passed through said slits, as shown in Fig. l. The cross-strips B are also shorter at the ends than at the middle of the belt, said strips decreasing in length from the center strip toward each end of the strap A, and said strap A is provided at each end with a link or ring D, with each of which is connected a supplemental strap E, which serves as means for tying or otherwise fastening the ends of the belt, and one of the straps E may also be provided witha buckle, if desired. I also preferably provide two of the cross-strips B with hooks G, which are secured thereto at the back thereof and which serve as means for supporting a skirt. The hooks G may be connected with the backs of the strips B in any desired manner, and one, two, or more of said hooks may be employed, and in the drawings two of said hooks are shown, one connected with the cross-strip at each side of the middle strip, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and as shown in full lines in Fig. 2.

The cross-strips B are composed of a cen tral flexible stiffening-strip H, of \vhalebone; steel, or any other suitable flexible elastic material, and a covering of any suitable flexible material, such as cloth or leather, and in practice this covering is preferably composed of silk or satin, but may be composed of embossed leather or any other preferred sub stance, and in constructing the said crossstrips the covering thereof is formed from two pieces of the same shape and size, placed together and stitched around the edges, so as to hold the central stiffening-strip in place.

My improved belt not only serves for ornamental purposes, but also constitutes abrace or stay, and the cross-strips B serve to give shape to the body when the ends of the belt are connected and act as a brace.

My invention is not limited to the use of any particular material in the construction of the cross-strips B, and by making the crossstrips B of suitable length and adjusting the lengths thereof at the side, back, and front said belt may be made to serve the purpose of a corset.

The belt is made adjustable by means of its connection with the links or rings D, and Whenever it is desired to shorten the belt or lengthen it the connection with the rings or links D is broken and the strap A shortened or lengthened, and at the same time the sepa rate cross-strips B or portions thereof may be removed or new strips inserted, and said crossstrips constitute, in effect, separate sections of the belt.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A belt, comprising a strap having a plurality of cross-pieces mounted thereon and movable thereon throughout its length, said cross-pieces being each composed of a flexible covering in.which is placed a flexible strip of stiffening material, substantially as shown and described.

2. A belt, comprising a strap having a plurality of cross-pieces mounted thereon and movable thereon throughout its length, said cross-pieces being each composed of a flexible covering in which is placed a flexible strip of stifiening material, and said cross-pieces being greater in length at the middle of the belt pending devices, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presr5 enee of the subscribing Witnesses, this 20th day of March, 1900.

EMMA ROBERTON.

Witnesses:

F. A. STEWART, V. M. VosLER. 

